GLORIOUS, GLORIOUS ME
After Toad put his cycle away, he pushed up his goggles and reviewed the fellows. They must be in awe of me, he thought. There's young Frog, he thought distastefully. Child cousins can be a bit of a drain, but one must be tolerant.
Smiling, Toad walked up to his young cousin and the other little chap, who Froggy introduced as Mole Minor. "That's his major over there in the quad." Frog added. "Did you bring any pocket money with you, Toady?"
"Yes, and keeping a close eye on it." Toad said evenly, but seeing the younger's face fall, he tossed him a half-crown. "Not much of a show here, is it?" Really, it wasn't. Saint Squirrel's had been a five-house school, but apparently the Prep was a wee place, with just three houses and a main building.
Toad had hoped Father would get him re-admitted to Squirrel's...place seemed to have a dim view of cleverness, and they really didn't prove that (well, not beyond a reasonable doubt) that Toady had glazed old Porcine's head bright lavender while the old idiot was snoring in the Master's Lounge.
Wouldn't a whopping have served better than being sent home? The Prep wasn't well known in Toad's circles. They'd never had a match with Squirrel's or any of Toad's other late educational establishments.
Young Minor was bringing over his older brother, who offered his fist to Toad.
"Nice to meet you. Always good to have a new chap." Toad gave the older Mole a big grin.
"Back at you, old bean. Looks like this old school needs a little jazzing up."
"We're doing all right." snarled a rodent like creature in a cheap smoking jacket. Certainly not Savile Row.
The Mole looked behind him. "Rat come be a bit social. This is a new fellow."
"He might be a bit shy, you know." Toad said kindly. "Often men at new public schools are a bit taken back by a fellow of looks and athletic prowess. My reputation dogs me."
"They don't mention who the water boys were for the Second Elevens at other schools, do they?" Frog asked innocently.
How is it, Toad wondered wearily, that young relatives can't just take the dratted half crown you give them and go to the school shop forthwith? Always, always underfoot.